ABL: Parks poised for back-to-back Local MVP awards

Photo from ASEAN Basketball League

After a slow start in the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League season, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. once again finds himself as the favorite to claim the Local Most Valuable Player award.

The San Miguel Alab Pilipinas star averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in his second year in the regional league, while also helping the Philippine side reach the Finals this season.

Parks holds the edge over fellow candidates Lee Ki of Hong Kong Eastern and Delvin Goh of the Singapore Slingers for the plum, which is set to be awarded on Wednesday before Game 3 of the 2018 ABL Finals at Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Complex.

If the former NU Bulldog does claim the hardware, he will be the second local player to win the award in back-to-back years, following the footsteps of Singapore’s Wong Wei Long in the 2014 and 2015-16 seasons.

Leo Avenido and Asi Taulava are the only other Filipinos who have previously won the Local MVP award, both of whom played for San Miguel Beermen.

But Parks isn’t the only San Miguel Alab Pilipinas player who is in the running for the end of season awards.

Renaldo Balkman has built a strong case to be named as the World Import MVP after netting 23.0 points, 10.9 boards, 3.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.9 blocks, but he’s in for a tight race with Anthony Tucker of Chong Son Kung Fu and Marcus Elliott of Hong Kong Eastern also fighting for the plum.

Balkman is also a candidate with teammate Justin Brownlee for the Defensive Player of the Year award, with Singapore Slingers’ Chris Charles also in the running.

Meanwhile, Fil-German Christian Standhardinger of Hong Kong Eastern is in contention for the Heritage Import MVP award against Fil-Am Jason Brickman of Mono Vampire and Fil-Am Mikh McKinney of Chong Son Kung Fu.